I prefer Aristotle's approach to rhetoric because he is in opposition to the Sophists. Plato and Aristotle are ultimately concerned with the truth. I disagree with Plato’s stance that truth is recognized because “we knew it before our birth, when our souls were with the divine.” (RT 81) This implies that humans have a spiritual relationship with knowledge. We don’t acquire truth before birth rather it is found through personal experiences. For this reason I have to disagree with Plato.
According to Aristotle, only scientific demonstration and logic can justify an absolute truth. In regards to writing effectively Aristotle recommends writers use a language relative to their audience. The idea that writers should have a clear audience in mind aligns most with my definition of rhetoric. Situations become rhetorical when the writer has evoked an particular audience. Some of the theorists are concerned with being deceived. Rhetoric in my opinion is less about trickery and more about making the best choices when speaking to a specific audience.
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